Alberto Lim was a former Philippine Secretary of Tourism. On June 29, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III

Benigno Aquino III

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....

 picked him as his Secretary of Tourism. He, however, quit his post on August 12, 2011 due to personal reasons.

Background

Before being appointed by Benigno Aquino III

Benigno Aquino III

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....

 to the Tourism secretary post, Lim was the president of the Makati Business Club

Makati Business Club

The Makati Business Club or MBC is a private non-stock, non-profit business association organized in the Philippines as a Forum for Constructive Ideas. As a forum, the MBC is dedicated to addressing economic and social policy issues which affect the development of the Philippines...

, a group known to support Aquino even before the latter's campaign started.

Tourism Secretary

He took over the helm of the Tourism Department from Joseph Ace Durano

Joseph Ace Durano

Joseph Hotchkiss Durano , popularly known as Ace Durano, was one of the youngest to be elected representative to the 11th congress...

. Early speculations also pointed to showbiz talk host Boy Abunda

Boy Abunda

Eugenio "Boy" R. Abunda, Jr. is a Filipino television host, publicist, talent manager and celebrity endorser. He is dubbed as the "King of Talk" in local show business.-Early life:Boy Abunda was born in Borongan City, Eastern Samar...

 as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT) but Abunda declined the post. In appointing Lim, Aquino said: :Tourism is seen as one of the key venues for increasing jobs in the country. We need someone who has proven competence in this field".

After 2010 Manila hostage crisis ended in blood, Lim was appointed with Soliman by the president "to provide everything necessary for the recovery and return home of the survivors". It is the first challenge faced by Lim after his appointment.

Minor Controversies

Lim was criticized for the tourism slogan Pilipinas Kay Ganda on the basis that foreigners did not understand clearly what it meant even though these people were the supposed object of the campaign message. Many notable people asked for his resignation until he finally decided to resign in August of 2011.